The Teku-Maza are an amphibious species originating from the Nehanda's Lattice galaxy, which was conquered by the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda.[1] They are distant relatives of Earth's Atlanteans, with whom they share many physical similarities.[2]
History
The Teku-Maza evolved from the great Jengu who once ruled the seas of their home planet Agwé, and once dominated their home galaxy. When the Wakandans arrived, the Jengu were hunted to near-extinction, leaving only one surviving member,[3] and the Teku-Maza were almost completely enslaved, forced to work in the Empire's vibranium mines such as those in the Zanj Region.[4] Though the Teku-Maza were aquatic like their ancestors, they were genetically modified to be totally amphibious.[2]
The last surviving Jengu became a symbol of Teku-Maza resistance against the Wakandans, especially for its ability to restore the Teku-Maza's race memories which had been taken by the Intergalactic Empire. A Teku-Maza born off-world in the Empire, N'Yami, was liberated by the Maroons and traveled back to Agwé to establish the Revolutionary Guard to liberate her ancestral home. When the planet was free, King Farouk, now leading the Guard, took custodianship of the last Jengu, but the planet remained under Imperial attack.
When the Revolutionary Guard were unable to obtain Maroon assistance in time, a group of outlaws led by Commander Jafari intended to buy peace from the Wakandans using the Jengu as a bargaining chip, and claimed to be rebels to gain the support of the Maroons.[3] Through the conspiracy of the Goddess Bast, General Achebe of the Empire and his warrior the Manifold, however, Jafari's forces were put down,[5] and a plan to destroy Emperor N'Jadaka's fleet by blowing up Agwé was put into motion; Manifold was able to evacuate many Teku-Maza before the Core-Killer was activated, but many more were killed in the blast.[6]Miscellaneous
Cultural Traits
The Teku-Maza were prolific creators of art, literature and music, which the Wakandans took when they colonized their worlds.
Both men and women style their hair elaborately, with women generally wearing it up and in metal bands, and men styling it with precious stones.[2]Representatives
- Agwé natives:
- Commander Jafari
- King Farouk
- Outworlders:
- N'Yami
Notes
Like most lands and people from the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, the name of the Teku-Maza is of African origin; in the Hausa language (spoken by the Dora Milaje in the Marvel Universe), "teku maza" literally means "sea people".
All named natives of Agwé also have names of Arabic origin, with Farouk in particular seeming to be named for a a 20th century king of the North African Kingdom of Egypt and Sudan.